The Knowledge of Saving Repentance – Luke 3:7-9

Repentance is a change of mind, a change of heart, and change of action. True repentance bears fruit. The first, vital step to saving repentance is to first know who you are.

John the Baptist rightly calls out to men, “you brood of vipers.” We were all, without exception, dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1). Every single person is totally depraved. Therefore, there is no one who is good, no one who is righteous, no one who seeks for God on his own (Ro 3:10-12). Total depravity does not mean that a person is wholly evil to the greatest extent all the time. Rather, it means that sin is totally distributed through every component of human nature (understandings, affections, and will). It is the human condition of fallenness. We sin because we are sinners (R.C. Sproul).

By God’s standard, you are not good.

1. The law of God says man is not good. Through the law comes the knowledge of our sin (Rom 3:20). “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (Jas 2:10).
2. The human conscience convicts us. The conscience bears witness because the work of the law is written on our hearts (Rom 2:15).
3. Man undermines the Scriptures. “The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart” (Ps 19:8).
4. Man rejects the gospel. Christ died, was buried, and was raised on the third day for our sins (1 Cor 15:3-4). “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it… We saw His glory” (Jn 1:5, 14). Jesus Christ came to be our substitute, and yet He was unwelcomed. “The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Cor 1:18, 25).
5. Man hates Christ, rejects, and doesn’t believe in Him. Christ only loved us and showed us His grace, did nothing wrong, and yet He was hated, even in his death.
6. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). The glory of God is for us to be like Christ. Yet everyone, without exception, has fallen short.

Why is the doctrine of total depravity so important? When you reject God and reject the idea that you are totally depraved, you are claiming to be self-righteous. Self-righteousness is damning. You fall into the danger of comparing yourself to others or being satisfied in merely being ethical. Augustine said, “Deliver me, O Lord, from that evil man – myself!” Self-righteousness can also quickly lead to legalism, in which your heart is corrupt, however righteous you may appear outwardly. God sees through the façade and right through the heart.

When you are self-righteous, you reject your need for a Savior. Self-righteousness hinders you from being sorrowful over your sin, and because of it you will be met with God’s wrath. “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom 1:18).

We are doomed because we have failed. We must reflect ourselves in the light of God’s truth to know who we truly are before Him. “Until we really know how damned we are, we can’t appreciate how glorious He is. Until we comprehend how doomed we are, we can’t understand how wondrous is His love to redeem us” (John Macarthur).